Budokan - The Martial Spirit
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Budokan is a martial arts game covering Karate (unarmed combat), Kendo (using a wooden sword), Nunchaku (using piercing chain weapons) and Bo (using a staff). The player has a realistic range of moves and must use them wisely, as Ki (life-force) is drained for every move made, whether successful or not, and both this and your stamina level must be kept high.

You can practice your skills alone, or spar against the instructors or your friends. Finally, when you feel you are ready, you can travel to the martial arts world championship tournament at Budokan.

Trivia

The inside flap of the box has some revealing text:

You'd think that when the designers of Skyfox and Skate or Die got together, you'd get something like Space Thrashers from Mars. Instead, you've got the most unique and comprehensive martial arts game to date. Go figure. Ray Tobey, Michael Kosaka, and Rick Tiberi are computer senseis, true black belts in their art. Give them a few commands, a few pixels of color, and they could reconstruct the Sistine Chapel--and animate it, to boot. If only they had a Game Designing and Programming competition at Budokan...

While it was intended as advertising copy, it also adequately describes most early "one-man wonder" games of the first decade of PC gaming; designers and programmers had to be true black belts in their art in order for a game to be a technical and financial success.

There is a hidden easter egg in the game: When in the courtyard, move as far right as you can. When you are between the dojo and the fence, type "b" and you will be in a small game of pong (the "b" is for "breakout").

If you wait long enough in front of the tournament building, you can see the Godzilla walking in the cityscape.

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Description from the packaging:

The Martial Spirit.
By Ray Tobey, Michael Kosaka, Rick Tiberi.
Walk the path of the warrior.

Learn four classic martial arts- Karate, Kendo, Nunchaku and Bo. Combine power and grace into a dangerous black belt mix.

Enter Tobiko Ryu Dojo. Your journey to the Bodokan begins here. Are you willing to endure the hard training it takes to be called a master?

Tobiko Sensei observes your every action. Go to him for words on tactics, strategy, and guidance. Put your philosophy into action.

Say hello to Goro-San. If you survive him, eleven others are ready to teach you the zen of defeat. If you don't, it's konban-wa (goodnight!).

Do you fast attack for quick points or store up your ki (energy) for the devastating blow? Better decide before his Yari answers for you.

Martial arts meets graphic arts!

The most fluid, detailed graphics ever designed for a computer game.

Authentic Japanese/Okinawan martial arts- all arts and weapons based on real life.

Extensively researched and developed by qualified martial artists.

Unique player interface allows for over 25 moves per style.

Twelve authentic martial arts styles, including Yari, Tonfa, Kusari-gama and Naginata.

Train and spar with the computer or a friend- but remember, you face the challenge of the Budokan alone.

Authentic digitized sound effects.


http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/budokan-the-martial-spirit
